[Ksummit-discuss] Linux Foundation Technical Advisory Board Elections and Nomination process

[Rafael J. Wysocki]

On Saturday, October 24, 2015 11:28:19 AM Grant Likely wrote:
> [Including Rafael who also asked about what being a TAB member means]
> 
> On Thu, Oct 22, 2015 at 10:03 PM, Darren Hart <dvhart at infradead.org> wrote:
> > On Tue, Oct 06, 2015 at 11:06:47AM +0100, Grant Likely wrote:
> > Is there a good description of what is expected of a TAB member? How much time
> > is involved? What makes a great TAB member?
> >
> > I've found: http://www.linuxfoundation.org/programs/advisory-councils/tab
> >
> > I've read the charter and scanned some of the minutes, but I'd still like to
> > hear from some of the "incumbants". Specifically, what makes you successful as a
> > member of the TAB?
> 
> I've been asked several versions of the same question, and also the
> annual "what does the TAB actually do?" question, so I'm going to try
> and answer them all in one email:
> 
> As the name implies, the primary job of the TAB is to advise the Linux
> Foundation board of directors on technical, social and political
> issues regarding Linux and Open Source. Our job is to represent the
> views of Linux developers and to foster constructive communication
> between the Linux Foundation leadership and our community.
> 
> A natural by-product of this is that the TAB also acts in the
> background to identify and resolve issues for the Linux community
> before they become a problem. The TAB tends to be composed of well
> respected individuals with good connections throughout our community,
> and so we're in a good place to recognize who to talk to when an issue
> is raised.
> 
> Finally, there are a few projects that the TAB is directly responsible
> for. We make sure there is a planning committee for the Linux Plumbers
> conference every year. We run a 'buddy' program to help new Linux
> Foundation member companies learn how to be fine upstanding Linux
> citizens. We are the response team for any issues of harassment or
> abuse within the kernel community. In past years we coordinated the
> response to UEFI Secure Boot to ensure that Linux would not be locked
> out of the consumer PC market, and been active in helping member
> companies understand and be comfortable with the licencing obligations
> associated with Linux.
> 
> A good TAB member is well respected by the community, is a ready
> listener, is comfortable discussing both technical and social issues,
> and has a good understanding of how the Linux community works. Since
> the TAB deals with a wide range of issues, the ideal TAB candidate
> should be prepared to consider issues outside of their own area of
> expertise. Sometime the most important characteristic of a TAB member
> is recognizing when an issue is beyond their depth and go looking for
> the right person to consult.
> 
> Time commitment wise, The TAB meets once a month for a conference
> call, plus any additional time required to deal with TAB business.
> Once a year (6 months after the TAB general election) the TAB elects
> one member to serve as the chair, and the chair of the TAB is proposed
> to the Linux Foundation to serve as a Linux Foundation Director which
> has additional time requirements.
> 
> One last point, some issues addressed by the TAB are highly sensitive
> and any member can request a topic to be kept strictly confidential.
> We do this to protect the working relationship we have with industry
> bodies, and to protect the companies and individuals involved. Any
> prospective TAB member must be comfortable abiding by our
> confidentiality rules.
> 
> I hope this answers your questions.

It certainly does answer mine.

Thanks a lot,
Rafael